Bark Beetle Treatment Services and other Tree Services we do:
Recently the western portion of the United States has been devastated by increased Bark Beetle populations which is starting to take its toll on both Public and Private Landowners causing Millions if not Billions of dollars in damage to conifer species. The drought situation along with other environmental factors in the Western United States has sparked this huge devastation and it seems to be getting worse.
We can help with this but customers must be proactive in calling us and not wait to see a picture like below on their property or a nearby property. By proceeding on with a proactive approach and attempt to prevent an infestation in selected trees while they are still healthy is most effective rather than to treat trees or try to save an already potentially dead tree. Sometimes we can treat infested trees and save them but its a long shot and most of the time its not worth the expense.
The future of our forests are in the hands of the public and if we all work together we can at least save some of these beautiful trees that most all of us like to sit around the campfire with our children and long time friends and enjoy their magnificent beauty as you look up at the stars during a clear night. We have seen some areas that as much as 2/3 of the trees are dead. Most all of us who vacation in these areas have seen this destruction. Clearly a most ugly sight not to mention the increased fire hazard.
In addition to bark beetle control, Look at the other services we provide plus very common Questions and answers about what we do.
Serving Greater El Dorado & parts of Sacramento, Placer, Nevada & Amador Counties + Folsom
We perform work on Trees and Shrubs including Consulting on Industrial Commercial & Residential Sites. We also look at these areas and assess the weed control problems and potential fire break zones that would be beneficial for the landscape areas around your home or business.
- Canopy treatments for leaf-rollers (Oakworms), Aphids, Scale, Mites Etc.
- Dormant Fruit tree applications for insects and other diseases
- Pruning and training of fruit trees, ornamental trees and shrubs
Eliminate hassle by having numerous companies doing different services on your home and business.
We are a full service company and have a wide range of services that may surprise you as to what we can do for our clients. Call today to talk to one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff members here at Excel Tech, Inc.
Some of the general tree services we get asked about are general tree trimming and thinning. We are not a tree trimming company, if you are looking for a tree trimming, thinning or removal company, reach out a local tree trimming company in El Dorado County.
Common questions that we are often asked
“What if it rains after a tree treatment is done? Does it wash the material off?”
Because our industry often deals with inclement weather conditions, we have other materials that we add to the main mix such as wetting agents and spreader stickers. These materials act to adhere the material to the leaves and or trunks and branches. Once the material has dried, it is not easily washed off by rain.
“What if it is windy? Do you still spray in windy conditions?”
Slight amounts of wind are usually not a problem. However, we will not do a tree canopy application if it is too windy. Weather conditions can change very rapidly. We will wait to reschedule because we may be able to treat your tree(s) at another time during the day if conditions become favorable. If not, we will then contact you to re-schedule.
“How long does the material last?”
Leaf-rollers/Oak worms, Bark Beetles, Borers and Dormant Fruit Tree Applications – We use a contact material which works right away (upon contact), but it also has a residual effect for 3 to 4 weeks.
Aphids, Army-worms, Anthracnose, Scale – We use a systemic material which is absorbed by the leaves and is active for about six weeks.
INFORMATION & TARGET MONTHS FOR TREATMENTS:
- Deep Root Aeration/Fertilization or Soil Inoculation: Loosens up soil that has become compacted allowing more water and oxygen down to the root zone. Fall & Spring.
- Foliar App. for Mistletoe: We spot treat clumps of mistletoe to control populations in deciduous oaks and other deciduous broadleaf trees, as well as on coniferous trees. We do this in the Fall.
- Root/Soil Injections: For Scale, Aphids, Bark or Leaf Beetles and Lerp Syllids (new pest in CA on Eucalyptus trees). November through March.
- Dormant Ornamental & Fruit Tree Treatments: For Scale, Aphids Mites and Fungus diseases. We do three, 3, applications per year: Dec, Jan, & Feb. We also prune the fruit trees around the same months of December-February
- Fruit Elimination: At first blossom and then a 2nd app. around two (2) weeks should give you 80% control. We do this app. for nuisance fruit on ornamental plums, liquid ambers, crabapples and olive trees, etc.
- Foliar Treatment for Anthracnose, other Fungi and Scale: Our target months are March and April.
- Foliar app. for Leafrollers /Oakworms: Our target months are March 15th through May 15th depending upon weather conditions and your location. For example it the weather remains unusually cool like it did in 1999, then the Leafrollers hatch later. In the lower elevations the leafrollers tend to hatch earlier in the season than higher elevations in the foothills. If you are located in the Folsom area or in the valley we will be starting with you first and work gradually up to higher elevations.
- Bark app. for Bark +/or Leaf Beetles: We start treating for them in early Spring through June, again depending upon weather conditions and extent of infestation.
- Foliar App. for Aphids, Armyworms: We do treatments in June through August.
Dormant Fruit Tree Applications Information
During the winter months of December through February (when Dormant Applications are done),, there’s a lot of rain and other weather conditions that may make it necessary to reschedule (some years more frequently than others).
It is important to understand that the normal schedule of three (3) applications are split up into months of Dec Jan & Feb; however, the applications need to be only two weeks apart. You might have two (2) applications during the same month if weather conditions limited service days available. There will only be three (3) services in a given season unless you have severe disease problems in the fruit trees and a 4th or 5th application are critical. Some years it rains so much that we may not be able to do all three applications necessary before the fruit trees begin to flower. This is frustrating for all of us; but unfortunately, we have to work around the weather.
We keep close tabs on the weather and will reschedule if it looks like we cannot do the application. We will call you to reschedule if you requested that each time; otherwise, we will move your service to the next available day. A majority of our customers know our routine and do not need to be called each time.
Listed below are some common Questions and Answers about dormant spray applications.
- Should I spray my fruit trees, roses, berries, and grape vines? How about ornamental trees?
Yes, if you want to maintain a degree of control over certain diseases and insects. Dormant sprays containing copper or sulfur help prevent many of the diseases we see each spring, including peach leaf curl, powdery mildew, shot hole fungus, and brown rot on stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries…). Spray oils help to smother over wintering insect pests, and help the spray stick to the trees. We add other products to the mixture that help the spray stick even better when rain is likely soon after spraying.
Ornamental trees that are related to fruit trees flowering plums, pears, crabapples, etc. If they are not already being treated, you may want to consider adding them to the program since they help diseases associated with fruit trees have an ideal place to over winter and spread to the fruit trees in future months. The ornamentals can be added on with reasonable costs if we are already there rather than making a separate trip.
- When should I spray?
Three applications during the winter months are necessary. This schedule works pretty well; except that if brown rot of stone fruits have been the problem (as it’s been in the two very wet springs of 1997 & 1998!), an additional treatment may be necessary while the tree is in bloom.
- If it rains close to the time after spraying, should you spray again?
Keep in mind that we use dormant oils and sticking agents, which are not easily washed off by rain plus we will be doing three applications anyway. Winter is a very normal part of the weather cycle. Some years are wetter than others and we cannot always time it right and get perfect control results. We can tell you that it would be much worse if you do not do the applications and skip services. If the customer chooses we can always increase the number of applications per year but is usually not necessary.
- What will happen if I don’t dormant spray my trees?
Certain disease problems, especially peach leaf curl, will get worse year after year, especially on older trees and if we repeatedly have wet springs. Younger trees tend to not be affected as much. Also note that we cannot instantly cure a peach leaf curl problem in one season. The treatments take time to work.
- What other things should I be doing to the fruit trees?
Good sanitation (picking up last year’s down fruit, proper pruning, irrigation and corrective landscaping are all necessary for proper fruit tree health.
- What kind of control can I expect?
That depends on a wide range of factors. The weather, temperature, soil problems, faulty landscaping, sunlight, variety of fruit trees etc all can affect disease and insect control.
- Will dormant sprays prevent the worms in my apples?
No. You need to treat with materials (organic or otherwise) to kill the codling moth adults before they lay their eggs, which happens just as the tree is finishing blooming. A Very important method is to put out codling moth monitoring traps to know when they are active and when to do an application. Dormant sprays will help prevent diseases on apple trees but not worms entering the fruit. Please let us know if there are worms in the apples in years past so we can schedule later 4th or 5th treatments after blooming stage before the larvae enter the new set fruit set for this season.
